Matuku Link

Matuku Link Community wetland restoration in the Waitākere River Valley. Since 2016, volunteers have transformed Matuku Link from bare paddocks to wonderful wetlands.

Our wetland education programme welcomes school groups.We have regular working bees - get in touch! Linking mature kauri forest, a river valley, wetlands and the sea. Bought after intense fundraising in 2016 it is now owned and looked after by the Matuku Reserve Trust. The aims for this Matuku Link project are to restore, protect and educate. Rare wetland species such as matuku (bittern), pateke (

brown teal), puweto (spotless crake) as well as native bats along the river and the raupo while the kauri and the kahikatea will be a home to kokako and many other bush birds. Volunteers have donated over 15000 hours in time, businesses donated materials, expertise and discounts, and together we grew and planted more than 12.000 native ecosourced trees, grasses and shrubs. Over 90% of New Zealand’s wetlands have been drained or filled yet on Auckland’s doorstep is the te Henga wetland, largest in the region. With your help, this wetland will be restored for the benefit of wetland plants and animals, and the diverse kauri and broadleaf forest protected. The old barn has been converted into a Sustainable Wetland Education Project, with visiting schools joining our Wetland Education Program. The conservation value gained from linking neighbouring eco-restoration projects Ark in the Park; Habitat te Henga and Forest and Bird Matuku Reserve next door will be huge!

🐜Wētā!🐜 (I know this emoji is an ant, there are no wētā emojis :( )The first picture here is a cave wētā! Linda and Ru...
15/05/2026

🐜Wētā!🐜 (I know this emoji is an ant, there are no wētā emojis :( )

The first picture here is a cave wētā! Linda and Russell found a cave wētā while out in the reserve the other day! Usually, we find them in our pipe near our fish ladder or in the cave wētā habitat donated by Fulton Hogan. They have the longest leg to body ratio of all five of Aotearoa's wētā: tree wētā, cave wētā, ground wētā, tusked wētā, and wētāpunga

Here at Matuku Link we sell soft toy wētā, which are not cave wētā but are in fact wētāpunga | giant wētā. If you would like your very own, head on over to our shop. Become the proud owner of a soft toy that is the largest insect in the entire world!

14/05/2026

💧The Rights of Wetlands 💧

This animation gives voice to wetlands and encourages individuals, communities and governments to take action for their rights. It was made in collaboration with design artist Giulia Bavagnoli and animation artist Rosie S Miles.

Wetland restoration and conservation is important to maintain the mana of te taiao. People are not in isolation from nature - care is reciprocal, what we give to nature, nature will give back to us.

Love the land you live with.

14/05/2026

🌿🦆 Meet Matuku Link, a local wetland restoration project making our neighbourhood a wonderful place for us all, including the amazing eels in our awa (river).
ℹ️ Learn more and get involved here: https://matukulink.org.nz/

🌱 International Day of Plant Health 🌱For International Day of Plant Health, Matuku Link wants to spotlight Raupō! Raupō ...
12/05/2026

🌱 International Day of Plant Health 🌱

For International Day of Plant Health, Matuku Link wants to spotlight Raupō! Raupō is a wetland plant that can be easily recognised by the tall leaves and the seed clusters that can be known as cat's tails! Raupō provides, habitat, material and oxygen to our repo | wetlands.

Why an International Day of Plant Health?

The United Nations designated 12 May as the International Day of Plant Health to raise global awareness on how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect biodiversity and the environment, and boost economic development.

ℹ Information sourced from the following websites
https://www.fao.org/plant-health-day/en
https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/tools-and-resources/collections/new-zealand-flax-collections/weaving-plants/raupo

📸Images from Eric van Essen

🔥 Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge 🔥The Firefighter Sky tower challenge is when firefighters nationwide commit to 1103 st...
11/05/2026

🔥 Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge 🔥

The Firefighter Sky tower challenge is when firefighters nationwide commit to 1103 steps, 51 floors, all while wearing 25kg of gear. Now in its 22nd consecutive year, The Firefighting Sky Tower Challenge is a fun and challenging fundraising event for firefighters to raise money for Blood Cancer NZ.

Blood Cancer NZ is New Zealand’s national organisation dedicated to supporting patients and their families living with a blood cancer – leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma or a related blood condition.

Matuku Link would like to encourage our community to engage with this kaupapa for multiple reasons. Our local fire brigade, Bethells Valley, is opposite Matuku Link, and we have built a connection with them over the years. In emergencies, we provide extra parking and space on site to gather as there is limited space at the station.

We'd like to personally support Peter as well. Peter and his wife Petroesjka own Bethells Beanz, who are our coffee supplier for all our volunteers at working bees, Nursery days and events. And last but not least, they give us water access via their property for our VIP kayak day fundraiser... good friends to have!

🛶 Kayak Day Reflections 🛶3 weeks ago, we had our annual fundraising kayak day exploring the wetlands! We had just under ...
08/05/2026

🛶 Kayak Day Reflections 🛶

3 weeks ago, we had our annual fundraising kayak day exploring the wetlands! We had just under 100 people come for a paddle!

We were able to see some Pāteke, Putangitangi, and lots of spur-winged plover amongst other wildlife.

A very special thank you to Peter and Petroesjka, who have not only granted us access to their land again but also created the easiest launch site ever!

Ngā mihi nui to all of our volunteers throughout the day! We are so grateful to have wonderful community members who enable others to explore this pocket of the Waitākeres along the awa. Not to mention the health & safety and educational aspects!

We look forward to seeing all of you this time next year!

☕ New Zealand Sign Language Kawhe | Coffee Order!☕"An Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere" includes you!vHopefully, ...
08/05/2026

☕ New Zealand Sign Language Kawhe | Coffee Order!☕

"An Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere" includes you!vHopefully, you have taken a look at the Deaf Aotearoa alphabet and vocab sheet and are on your way to ordering some Kawhe | Coffee. Try asking in NZSL next time you have some kawhe!

This week, 4th -10th May, is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. NZSL is one of New Zealand's official languages and is used by ~25,000 people nationwide.

The Deaf community are the primary users of this language, however, Children of Deaf Adults (CODA), Neurodiverse/Semiverbal people, and ANYONE else can and do use this language.

This year, the 20th anniversary of New Zealand Sign Language Week Deaf Aotearoa would like to encourage the use of NZSL ANYWHERE and by ANYONE.

👋 New Zealand Sign Language Vocab Sheet👋Try learning some simple signs, be part of "an Aotearoa where anyone can sign an...
07/05/2026

👋 New Zealand Sign Language Vocab Sheet👋

Try learning some simple signs, be part of "an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere". This is the NZSL Vocab Sheet. Once you learn these signs, you can make a little bit of small talk with your friends and whānau!

This week, 4th -10th May, is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. NZSL is one of New Zealand's official languages and is used by ~25,000 people nationwide.

The Deaf community are the primary users of this language, however, Children of Deaf Adults (CODA), Neurodiverse/Semiverbal people, and ANYONE else can and do use this language.

This year, the 20th anniversary of New Zealand Sign Language Week Deaf Aotearoa would like to encourage the use of NZSL ANYWHERE and by ANYONE.

👋 New Zealand Sign Language Alphabet👋Try learning some simple signs, be part of "an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywh...
06/05/2026

👋 New Zealand Sign Language Alphabet👋

Try learning some simple signs, be part of "an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere". This is the NZSL Alphabet. Once you learn the alphabet, you can finger spell words!

This week, 4th -10th May, is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. NZSL is one of New Zealand's official languages and is used by ~25,000 people nationwide.

The Deaf community are the primary users of this language, however, Children of Deaf Adults (CODA), Neurodiverse/Semiverbal people, and ANYONE else can and do use this language.

This year, the 20th anniversary of New Zealand Sign Language Week Deaf Aotearoa would like to encourage the use of NZSL ANYWHERE and by ANYONE.

👋 New Zealand Sign Language Week 👋This week, 4th -10th May, is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. NZSL is one of Ne...
05/05/2026

👋 New Zealand Sign Language Week 👋

This week, 4th -10th May, is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. NZSL is one of New Zealand's official languages and is used by ~25,000 people nationwide.

The Deaf community are the primary users of this language, however, Children of Deaf Adults (CODA), Neurodiverse/Semiverbal people, and ANYONE else can and do use this language.

This year, the 20th anniversary of New Zealand Sign Language Week Deaf Aotearoa would like to encourage the use of NZSL ANYWHERE and by ANYONE.

Try learning some simple signs, be part of "an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere".

🐀 PESTIVAL 🐀It's pestival season!! This weekend, Restore Rodney Central, Rodney Local Board, and Rewild the West bring y...
30/04/2026

🐀 PESTIVAL 🐀

It's pestival season!! This weekend, Restore Rodney Central, Rodney Local Board, and Rewild the West bring you PESTIVAL at Muriwai Surf Club this Saturday, the 2nd of May.

A fun, family-friendly event, this is a chance to meet your local Pest Free group, hear from pest specialists and receive advice on ecological restoration.

Our very own John Sumich will be giving a talk about our wetlands at some point during the day.

Address

111 Bethells Road
Auckland
0708

Website

https://matukulink.org.nz/product/wetland-tour/

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